Top Things to Do In Idaho Springs, Colorado
Idaho Springs is the perfect weekend getaway from city life or stop along the way when driving to one of Colorado’s ski towns. There are tons of summer and winter activities, beautiful scenery around every corner, a quaint downtown, and, of course, that mountain town feel that everyone knows and loves. With so many things to do in Idaho Springs, you’ll never lack plans! You’ll definitely want to return and enjoy all of the options across seasons, times, and places.
Ready and Rearing To Go
There are so many great things to do in Idaho Springs, starting with the TONS of outdoor activities! From family-friendly options to thrilling adventures, you’ll want for nothing when you experience the beauty and fun of Idaho Springs’s classic (and not so classic) adventures!
Rafting
Summertime activities are a-plenty, but a fan favorite for things to do in Idaho Springs in the summer has to be rafting. Clear Creek has some of the best rafting in the state, and Idaho Springs is home to it all. There are several great options for rafting companies to go with, and this is an activity that can be family-friendly or extreme! Learn more about the great rafting options in Idaho Springs!
Winter Sports
As rafting is to summer, so skiing, snowboarding, and tubing are to winter! Idaho Springs boasts the beautiful Echo Mountain as the spot for these fun winter sports. Echo Mountain has slopes for many levels of expertise – some of them can get a little tricky, though. Make sure you’re prepared for a few tricks along the way!
If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the mountain with the ever-fun tubing! Get your gear from Echo and schedule an hour (or a few) of fun going up and down the mountain in style. When asking locals and visitors alike, this is always at the top of the list for things to do in Idaho Springs!
Ice Skating
Ice Skating is now an option in Idaho Springs The Frozen Fire Ice Rink at Digger Field! The rink opened in December 2020 and the plan is to have it be a year-round attraction. How is this possible you may ask? Instead of normal ice, this rink is made of Glice. Glice is a synthetic material that requires little maintenance and can provide skating fun no matter what the temperature. Grab your skates (or rent them there) and visit Idaho Springs newest outdoor attraction!
Hiking
You think Colorado, and you think hiking. This little mountain town is ready to provide exhilarating hikes with stunning views and a true Colorado experience. There are many hikes that are suitable for various skill levels and time commitments. A crowd favorite is the St. Mary’s Glacier Hike which is short and sweet, and offers many scenic outlooks along the way for you to enjoy.
Hiking isn’t the only way to enjoy the scenery in and around Idaho Springs, though it is a classic and fun experience. Another option is to enjoy a scenic drive. You haven’t scene anything until you’ve appreciated these views. Of all the things to do in Idaho Springs, these are the best ways to catch those mountain ranges you hear so much about!
Tours
Did you know that Idaho Springs is simply brimming with rich mining history? As the place where the Colorado gold rush started, there is so much to learn while you’re in town. Plenty of mines offer tours, and practically all of downtown is historic. There are a couple of great museums where you can find interesting and unique information about Idaho Springs. A few of the tours you can enjoy are:
You also have the opportunity to take part in a tour of the outdoorsy kind that will leave you with an adrenaline rush all its own! ATV Tours are fun, exhilarating, and a great way to experience the Colorado nature! ATV Experience in Idaho Springs offers fun tours during the warmer season where you can ATV down beautiful paths and enjoy the (bumpy) ride.
Hot Springs
And where did Idaho Springs get its name? The relaxing hot springs, of course! You can enjoy fun and restful activities at the Indian Hot Springs including their spa, fully decked out with massages, mud baths, and more! This is also a great option for a place to stay and enjoy after a day of adventuring! You can’t do Idaho Springs without a trip to the hot springs!
The Local Flavor
If you thought the activities were good, just wait until you see the great food you’ll get to eat when visiting Idaho Springs! Isn’t it true that the best things to do in Idaho Springs revolve around food? It’s a close one – we’ll let you decide!
Diner
You’ve never seen a finer diner than in Idaho Springs! You can savor classic American bites while looking out over the mountains – have you ever heard anything more Colorado? You’ll want to stop at different diners for different good eats.
Hilldaddy’s Wildfire Restaurant offers chicken-fried steak that is to-die-for. Main Street Restaurant won best breakfast in Idaho Springs for a reason – a blend of American food and exotic meals from around the world? Count us in. Marion’s of the Rockies means pancakes, breakfast burritos, biscuits and gravy, and everything perfect for fueling up for a day of adventure! Did someone say grilled cheese? BIG B’s Soup & Grilled Cheese has that down to a tee!
If food isn’t one of your favorite things to do in Idaho Springs, you probably haven’t eaten at one of these delectable diners!
Pizza
Idaho Springs is known for their pizza – are you surprised? Home to the tasty Colorado Pizza from Beau Jo’s that you absolutely cannot miss, pizza is a must-eat when you stop by this mountain town. Get pizza everything at Beau Jo’s – from your favorite toppings to a cookie pizza, you’ll be in heaven! Another great option for pizza while in town is Picci’s Pizzeria – family-owned with recipes perfect over the years make this a great stop!
Non-American
After a day of enjoying the many things to do in Idaho Springs, you may want to spice up your food options a little – and thankfully, the town is ready to provide. There are several great non-American food options that will fill you up and make you want to come back for more! From Mexican to Mediterranean, Idaho Springs has food that IS for you.
Coffee Shops
In the winter months, you’ll definitely need a little something to warm you up after a rigorous day of skiing and enjoying the Colorado snow! The Frothy Cup is Idaho Springs’ resident coffee shop. With great hot drinks and baked treats that will make your mouth water, The Frothy Cup is definitely the most welcome site on any winter day. For something classic, Idaho Springs also has a local Starbucks!
Drinks
After a day of adventure, it makes sense to relax, unwind, and enjoy some of the local nightlife. One way to enjoy the company of locals while experiencing some of the great things to do in Idaho Springs is to stop by one of the bars and breweries in Idaho Springs. Stop in at one of these local hangouts to get a taste of local brews and local fun!
- Clear Creek Cidery Tavern & Taps
- The Buffalo – featuring the Kind Mountain Band on Wednesdays!
- Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub
- Two Bears Tap & Grill
- Vintage Moose
- Westwinds Tavern
Shop Till You Drop
Is it really vacation if you don’t do a little (or a lot of) shopping? If your favorite thing to do is wander about town, window shop, and actually shop, downtown Idaho Springs has you covered! With cute gift shops, thrift stores, music stores, outdoor gear stores, and more, you have lots of places to visit!
Gift Shops
Idaho Springs has tons of quaint gift shops with a wide variety of items to suit any preferences and personality – whether you’re buying for yourself or for a loved one! The Wild Grape won best gift shop due to their wide offering and the fact that they never have a shortage of great items! Other gift shops in Idaho Springs include:
Outdoors Store
To prepare for all of the adventurous things to do in Idaho Springs, you can stop in at one of the great outdoors stores. For your gear for camping, fishing, and other outdoor adventures, you can stop in at local favorite and best of winner, Clear Creek Outdoors. To find very Colorado gear, FERAL Mountain Co. is also a great option.
When getting ready to tackle the slopes of Echo Mountain, you can find rentals at Maison de Ski or Exit 240 Ski & Snowboard Rental. To make sure your pets are ready to go, you can stop in at Dancing Dog – they even carry special CBD treats to help keep your pups healthy for their adventures!
Jewelry/Apparel
Idaho Springs is chock-full of Colorado artisans that create beautiful and unique apparel and jewelry. You can find jewelry inspired by the native cultures to the area, bohemian influences, and the Colorado beauty all around. Some of the jewelry stores in Idaho Springs include:
There are also unique apparel offerings in town! Get decked out in local clothing as you prepare to embark on the adventure of tackling all of the things to do in Idaho Springs! Several of the gift shops offer great Colorado tees, the outdoor stores offer apparel fitted for your outdoor adventures, and there are a few specialty items you can find here. One of these is Vivid Earth Tie Dyes (at Kind Mountain Collective). They make unique clothing pieces using classic tie dye methods! Find onesies, themed tees, scarves, hoodies, and more!
Music
Idaho Springs also boasts of a music store! Vintage instruments, strings, and other artisan pieces are just part of what you can find at Kind Mountain Collective. All of the art in their store is made by local artists, and they are home to the Kind Mountain Band – an Idaho Springs music staple. What better souvenir than an instrument from a true mountain music store.
If you love music, but don’t have the joy of playing, Idaho Springs also offers great events – including music festivals! Everyone’s favorite thing to do in Idaho Springs in the summer months is go to one of our classic music festivals. RapidGrass Festival is an all-out bluegrass extravaganza! Glacier Fest combines live music with that Colorado scenery we all know and love. The options are simply melodic!
So Many Things to Do in Idaho Springs
There are virtually endless things to do in Idaho Springs – from outdoor adventures, historic tours, good eats, quaint downtown shopping, events around every corner, and more! You’ll never want for new activities. It’s impossible to do everything in one weekend – you’ll have to come back! We’ll see you around town soon!
For all of the best things to do in Idaho Springs, check out the winners of the 2019 Best of Idaho Springs winners!